Grade 7 & 8 Science

Welcome to Grade 7 & 8 Science!

Pearson's ScienceSource - Student and Teacher Resources: www.sciencesource.ca

April 2014

Ecosystems Activity - Humani smartis and Woody toothapickus

Free Science Resources!

The Ministry of Education has recently released some new resources which are all free and accessible online.

• A full unit on “Water Systems” in Grade 8 (http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/literacy2/subjectspecific/sciencegr8watersystems.html)
• Exercises on Financial Literacy (in collaboration with STAO, Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario) (http://stao.org/res2/fin-lit.php):
  • Electricity and Electrical Devices (Gr 6 Matter and Energy)
  • Heat in the Environment (Gr 7 Earth and Space Systems)

Resources from Science & Literacy Networks (2010-2012)

(Scroll down to the bottom of the page for "Reflections" on our Science & Literacy Networks - feedback from teachers that participated in the networks)
Organization of Literacy in Textbooks:

Sample Unit Plans (developed June 2011)

Our first attempt at unit planning for Science & Technology, Grade 7 & 8. Use the discussion tab above to make comments, suggestions, ...

Grade 7 - Interactions in the Environment



Grade 7 - Structures: Form & Function


Grade 8 - Cells

Gr 8 Science Unit A Cells Unit Plan - Final.docx

• Details
• Download
• 72 KB

Other Units & Lessons:
EduGAINS DI has four lessons: Gr 7 Form & Function, Gr 7 Interactions in the Environment, Gr 8 Water Systems & Gr 8 Fluids
http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/di2/dilearningexamples.html

And it has a unit on Water Systems in Literacy GAINS:
http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/literacy2/subjectspecific/sciencegr8watersystems.html

"Making Good Observations" Anchor Chart

Demos

Dissecting Glow Stick

Egg in Cup Demo - Set Up (egg, spool of thread, smooth cookie sheet, mug half-filled with water)

Egg in Cup Demo - video (you may need to move the cursor along the "viewing" line)

Loved this story.@cbcasithappens, get on it! High Schoolers Fold TP a Record Number of Times, shar.es/W8B4s

— Quirks & Quarks (@CBCQuirks) January 13, 2012

If you wish to make your own Borax crystals at home, here is what you need to do... fb.me/1MRDbGsUy

— Pueblo Science (@puebloscience) May 29, 2012

Diffusion Egg Demo (Idea #571 from "Idea Bank Collation" by Irwin Talesnick - participants were provided one copy per school during session #3)

Two Candles Demo:

Set Up:

• 2 candles; lighter; drip pan (aluminum pan)
• light candles; hold one candle above the other horizontally (see pic)
• allow for air above the flame to warm up
• bring the bottom candle away from the top candle
• blow out the bottom candle and quickly bring it back to it's original position

Result: The bottom candle should relight without touching the flame from the top candle (but bringing it close enough for the fuel vapour from the bottom candle to ignite from the above flame); explain using particle theory, convection & combustion

Pop Can Demo:
(see "C24: Starting Point; Pressure Can - Teacher Demo" p.227 of the Pearson's Investigation Science and Technology 8
Teacher Resource: Unit C, pp.42-43 for details)



Heating a Balloon Filled with Water - Will it Pop?

Dancing Raisins: vinegar, baking soda & raisins in a 250 mL beaker


Egg - Sink or Float:

Set Up:

• 6 clear plastic cups, labelled 0 to 5, and each filled with 2/3 cup of water
• amount of salt: 0 = no salt; 1 = 1/4 table spoon; 2 = 1/2 table spoon; 3 = 3/4 table spoon; 4 = 1 full table spoon; 5 = 1 1/4 table spoons (increasing by 1/4 table spoon each time)
• place egg (raw or hard boiled) in each cup and observe

Result: an egg will either sink or swim; although students will usually predict that floating is proportional (e.g., a little bit of salt will cause a little bit of floating)

Graphic Organizers

- to use while doing science and for assessment: preassess prior knowledge, address misconceptions, guide further instruction

-also remember that you can use the Smarter Science posters as graphic organizers

Inquiry Activities/Investigations/Tasks

Smarter Science - this is DPCDSB's resource page on Smarter Science

Poster Signs - Place these above the "Steps to Inquiry Posters" to help scaffold the process (for both students and teachers)

Baggy Science

Rate of Dissolving - Gr 7 & Flow Rates - Gr 8 (Smarter Science Lesson)

Exploring Electrical Charge - with Multiple Intelligences

Cylindrical Wing: Set up two lines: one 1.25 cm from the left edge; one 6.25 cm from the right edge
Here's a link with more info and folding diagrams: http://www.exo.net/~donr/activities/Cylindrical_Wing.pdf


1. Oil Spill Clean-Up - Gr 8 pp.258-259; Gr 7 p.72
2. Bug-o-Copters (c/o Douglas Llewellyn's Inquire Within, pp.116-119)

3. Alka-Seltzer Rockets

4. Cabbage Juice Indicator

teacher notes:
*"anthocyanin is the pigment molecule in red cabbage that allows it to act as an indicator (more info @ http://chemistry.about.com/od/acidsbase1/a/red-cabbage-ph-indicator.htm)

*to make cabbage juice indicator solution:

• cut a red cabbage in half
• use one half and chop into smaller pieces
• place in a large pot
• pour 2-3 L of water into the pot
• bring the water to a boil & boil the cabbage until the water is a dark purple colour
• cover the pot and let cool
• filter/strain the solution and dispose the cabbage leaves

Lionel's Mystery Powders:


Forensic Science:
Notes:

1. Save the .zip file to your computer.
2. Extract the files by double-clicking the .zip file, click on "Extract Files" on the left-hand side of the screen and follow the prompts.
3. Open the "intro" file. It should open in the web browser. Continue by following the links.

Procedure Card Cut-Outs:
Preparing a wet mount
Procedure Cards - Preparing a Wet Mount.docx
Penny & Water
Procedure Step Cards (Penny & Water).doc
Procedure Step Cards (Penny & Water) with pictures.doc

Egg Osmosis
Videos:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpVbcJY4amA
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQzqk2hzj8&feature=related
Pictures:
Available on the blog: http://sciencenetworks.wikispaces.com/
Forces
- wordle of text from sections 4.0 & 4.1 - Gr 8 text

Calculating Mechanical Advantage - Gr 8 p.120


A closer examination of the Pendulum ... December 2013

2012 - 2013 Networks

Session #1

Monday, October 29, 2012 Belief Wordle

Structural Components - Representing our Results

Tuesday October 30, 2012

2010-2011 Networks:

Session #5: Planning Session

Science & Literacy Planning Template

Gr 8 - Water Systems Example using Planning Template

Three-Part Lesson Plan Template

Guided Reading Template

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x23NcN_TSk
Smarter Science Posters - Bridge Example (starting with video for observations)

Session #2-4: Nov 2010 - April 2011 (Sharing)

Finding online articles:
www.sciencenews.org
www.sciencenewsforkids.org
www.americanscientist.org/science
www.sciencedaily.com
www.eurekaalert.org
www.nature.com/news/index.html
www.bbc.co.uk/news

Inquiry Debrief Ideas - What are teachers doing?
From Pearson's Investigation Science and Technology 7 & 8:
Gr 7
- Cleaning Up an Oil Spill (p.72)
- Melting and Freezing of Deodorizer Blocks (p.205)

• note: use a small amount of deodorizer in the test tube when heating in the water bath

-What it feels like to be a structure (p.113)

• note: this can be adapted/starting point for students to generate questions using the Smarter Science posters

-Coffee Filter Chromatography (p.227)

• it created a lot of buzz with the students
• for the initial lab, create one box: What am I wondering?
• 
• students perform experiments based on what they were wondering: after trying salt as the solute, they tried sugar and a mixture of salt & sugar; some students wondered if they could stop the movement by using crayon
• 
• introduce variables/controls --> students were engaged and wanted to redo their experiments by setting up fair test (with controls)

-Curious Candle (p.320)

• this inquiry activity worked really well
• students start to wonder "Why does the water level rise in the beaker after you place it over the candle?" --> this could be the starting point for a student-directed inquiry ("What am I wondering? from Poster 1 of Smarter Science; guide students into posters 2-4 based on I wonder questions)

-Pathway for inquiry in structures: start with "Loads to Measure" (p.121) to introduce the Smarter Science posters; continue with "Structural Components and Materials" (p.138); and then "Supporting a Load" (p.144). At first, students struggled with the vocab of dependent/independent variable. By the third inquiry, students were much more comfortable with the vocab (and as a teacher, much more comfortable with the process)
Structures: Physics of Stone Arches - work as medieval architects and build various arches and supports while learning about forces
http://to.pbs.org/vIyCAT

Gr 8
-Cartesian Diver Quick Lab (p.191)

• students worked in groups of 5
• students were asked to bring in their own 2-L bottle (1 per group; groups with more than one shared with another group that didn't have one)
• students generated observations and questions (poster #1 of Smarter Science)
• this was easy to do with a class of 34 students

-Pouring a Gas - Invisible Magic (see p.5 of Teacher's Manual for more details; textbook C5 POE pp.194-195)

• the demo worked really well for Poster #1 of Smarter Science; students practiced making observations, writing questions, and explaining their ideas using the particle theory

-Mixtures of Mattter (p.201)

• using marbles, sand and water in Part 1 helped students visualize the particle theory and make connections to the two liquids in Part 2

-Golf Ball Loader (p.249)

• this was used as a culminating activity: students were given limited details (a very open task) - Lift a golf ball 15 cm and then drop it in a bucket using a simple pneumatic system
• 
• students were also given an opportunity to reflect on their problem-solving

Other Ideas:

1. Create a list of STSEs, inquiries/labs that we may not have time to do (from the textbook)
   • students choose one as a summative
   • can be assessed cross-curricular
   • students were very engaged (they took ownership)
   • provide tentative dates; need to be flexible for product completion
2. Discuss with high school to have senior students come and teach/facilitate a day for Gr 7/8 science (e.g. Gr. 11 students from St. Paul's presented an ecosystem workshop for a Gr 7 class from one of their feeder school (Queen of Heaven) --> students were very engaged!)
3. Gr 7 Structures: Live feed from the Confederation Bridge http://www.confederationbridge.com/en/webcam.php
4. Using sleds & Smarter Science: How can you make one person on a sled, moving downhill, travel the furthest? Here are some pics (variables, equipment, sample table)
   • 
5. Use the Smarter Science Posters to guide students to inquiry about sublimation (e.g. Can I freeze water vapour and form ice?)
6. How Many Drops on a Penny? - students used syringes to help measure the volume of water used
7. Structures - students use recycled materials to create a chair
8. "The Test Tube with David Suzuki" http://interactive.nfb.ca/#/testtube

Reflections on our Networks (2011-2012):

Reflections on our Networks (2010-2011):

Environmental Choices - How Easy is it to be Green Wordle

Day 1


Day 2



Day 3 wordle:

"Force Wordle" c/o http://www.wordle.net/

Page Last updated: December 5, 2012